Nairobi, the capital of Kenya with an estimated population of 2.2 million, has experienced rapid population growth due to rural-urban migration and natural rate of increase. As a consequence of this rapid growth, the city lacked the means to manage its increasing amounts of solid waste. Untreated solid waste was dumped along streets, side ditches and other public areas, leading to a poor environmental health and low quality in the city.

The master plan for the improvement of solid waste management in Nairobi City was formulated and the implementation of the selected priority projects was proposed. The priority projects are composed of institutional restructuring, financial reform, private sector involvement promotion, final disposal site construction and improvement of the waste collection and transportation system.